Railroad alarm-signal



(No Mode l.)

H. s. UNANG ST.

RAILROAD ALARM SIGNAL.

Patented Apr. 20, 1886-.

avwewioz a der/news N. PETERS mm-umo m m wnshmm n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. UNANGST, OF PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY.

RAILROAD ALARM-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,390, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed Fcbruarylfi, 1886. Serial No. 192,124. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. UNANGST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phillipsburg, in the county of Warren and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad Alarm-Signals, of which the following is a specification, ref

erence being had to the accompanying'drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in railway alarm-signals for low overheadbridges, designed to give an alarm to brakemen on top of freight-cars before approaching a low bridge; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation view of a railway-signal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a: m of Fig. 2. a

A represents a vertical post of suitable height, which is located on one side of the railway-track, and is provided near its lower end with a bracket or hearing, B, in which is journaled one end of a horizontal shaft, 0. The other end of the said shaft isjournaled in a transverse opening, which is made in the web of 'one of the railway-rails, and the said shaft carries a tappet-arm, G, which bears against the outer side of the track, and also a leverarm, D. To the outer end of the tappet-arm is jonrnaled an anti-friction roller, E, the upper edge of which extends normally a slight distance above the upper side of the rail. The lever-arm Dis provided with a series of transverse openings, d. A stop, F, is secured to the inner side of the post A, near the lower end thereof, andlimits the upward movement of the lever-arm D. To the upper end of the post A is secured a fiat spring or arm, G, which is bent in the form shown in Fig. 2, and has a bell, H, secured to its free upper end. The clapper of this bell moves in guides h, which prevents rotary movement of the clapper, and insures its striking against the side ofthe bell and sounding an alarm. An arm,

I, is secured to the spring G at a point above the upper end of the post, and to the outer end of the said arm is pivoted a link, K. The lower end of this link is connected to a vertically-movable rod, L, the lower end of which rod is attached to the lever-arm D by means of a transverse pin or bolt, M, which passes through the lower end of the rod Land through either of the series of openings d. The rod L is guided by a keeper, N, which is secured on the inner side of the post, and the said rod is provided at-its upper end with an extensile coiled spring, 0, which bears between the keeper and a shoulder formed on the rod. The function of this spring is to keep the lever-arm and tappet-arm normally raised in the position shown in solid lines in the drawings.

This signal is erected at some distance from a low overhead-bridge or other dangerous obstruction, and when a train approaches its wheels, by passing over the friction-roller at the outer end of the tappet arm, causes the said arm to be depressed, and thereby sound the bell. As each wheel passes over the friction-roller the tappet-arm and lever-arms are raised by the resilience of the spring 0. By adjusting the bolt M in or out on the leverarm the stroke of the bell may be regulated.

A railway-signal thns constructed is cheap and simple, is automatic in its operation, and is not likely to get out of order.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, in a railway-signal, of the post A, the spring G, secured thereto and carrying the bell, the rock-shaft having the tappet-arm adapted to be operated by the wheels of a passing train, and the lever-arm having the series of openings 01, the link K, and rod h, connecting the spring G with the lever-arm, and the spring 0 for raising the lever-arm and tappet-arm as each wheel of the train passes, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a railway-signal, of the tappet-arm adapted to be operated by the wheels of apassing train and the bell connected to the said tappetarm and operated thereby, the said bell having the guideways h, to prevent circular motion of the clapper, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' HENRY S. UNANGST.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. DITTLER, JOHN S. NOBLE. 

